The 57th presidential inauguration, which will mark the second term of Barack Obama, has kicked off a marketing frenzy — legal and otherwise, starting with scalping of the tickets to the Jan. 21 event in the nation’s Capital.The Hill reports today that inaugural tickets doled out by the offices of lawmakers including Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio have already hit the black market with big price tags.
We checked this morning on Craigslist to find a listing for Obama swearing-in tickets — which are free to constituents — going for $250 each in the Los Angeles market. The practice is not illegal, the Hill reports, though it is “frowned upon” by legislators.
And that’s not the only money-making efforts tied to the big swearing-in event, which will also feature top notch entertainers like Beyonce, who’s slated to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” and James Taylor, who’s on schedule to perform “America the Beautiful.”
A roster of official souvenirs stars not only the President and First Lady Michelle Obama — but also the family Portuguese water dog, Bo.
No kidding, here’s a look at the $20 kiddie shirt that’s now for sale on the official Inauguration website:
The Bo item is one of a few dozen featured on the site — and one of several starring the “first dog.” (A $5 “Bo” button, and a baby “onesie, for example.)
But — as they say on the infomercial spots –there’s more!
The $15 presidential golf divot, the $45 (are they kidding?)inaugural wine glass, the $10 Obama can holder, the $25 coffee mug and $30 water bottle, the $150 cuff links. There’s the buttons, and the Obama tee shirts — if all that doesn’t suffice — the $7,500 commemorative medallion set.